10 Days in South Korea: The Perfect Travel Itinerary for Solo Travellers

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

South Korea had been on my travel bucket list for a while, but it wasn't until I actually went that I realised how incredible it is as a travel destination! In South Korea, you have the contrast of ultra-modern cities and traditional neighbourhoods, delicious food, super efficient public transport and honestly, it is so picturesque (a photographers heaven).

I felt completely safe while travelling South Korea (which as a solo traveller, makes a huge difference).

This 10 day itinerary is based on my own trip, covering Seoul, Jeonju and Busan. It's the perfect mix of city exploration, culture, food and slowing moments to take everything in.

Where You'll Explore in South Korea

Places you'll visit: Seoul → Jeonju→ Busan → Seoul

Duration: 10 days

Best for: Everyone (solo travellers, solo females, partners or travelling with friends)

Map of South Korea

10-Day South Korea Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul

You've made it, yipee! Welcome to your first stop in South Korea - the bustling capital Seoul. Seoul is an incredible city with lots of different neighbourhoods and areas to explore. Once you get through customs and collect your luggage, I'd recommend purchasing a simcard from on of the stalls in the arrival hall. Some simcard vendors also give you a T-Money card, which is the card you can use for public transport (this will be your savour on the trip). You can top these up with cash inside train stations.

Depending on what area you're stay in, you can either travel via limousine bus from Incheon Airport (these can be booked via the kiosks at the airport to the closest stop near your accomodation), catch a AREX train or catch an uber or taxi. Uber is obviously the more expensive option but it takes you direct to your accomodation.

Once you've arrived and settled into your accomodation, head out for a walk around your neighbourhood to check out the area. This is the best way to get an understanding of your surroundings and to see what is nearby your accomodation. There are plenty of things you can do and see, so just take it slow on the first day. (On arrival, I stayed in Itaewon and when I returned from Busan on my final night, I stayed in Myeongdong). You'll be wanting to stay in an area that is central and close to a train station/bus stop as this is the best way to explore the city.

For dinner, check out one of the local restaurants for K-BBQ or some Korean fried chicken!

Tips for Itaewon

Itaewon had such a cool vibe and was a great area to explore, there were lots of quirky vintage shops to explore, vibrant neon lights and a fun night life scene (the parties don't stop here, I could always hear music til around 6/7am) . The food here was so delicious and it was totally safe to be walking around by yourself. I stayed close by to Itaewon train station which was great for when I wanted to explore.

Day 2: Exploring Hongdae + Sinsa

Rise and shine, it's time to head out and explore. Today you'll be heading out to explore Hongdae and Sinsa, so pack your bag and don't forget to grab your camera because there is a lot to take photos of!

Hot tip!

Most shops and cafe's open between 10-11am, so please keep this in mind while you're planning your day.

Hongdae is a train ride away from Itaewon. The metro train system here is so easy to use and the station names are displayed in Korean and English. Hongdae is best known as a 'university' neighbourhood, with a bustling nightlife scene and is great for shopping. There are a lot of vintage shops and cool indie fashion shop here. You could spend hours walking around taking photos, shopping and exploring the down all of the alleways and areas.

Have you ever wondered what your colours suit you best? You can get a colour analysis done here in Hongdae - I visited Vic's Lab for a personal colour analysis. A colour analysis is a styling technique that identifies what clothing colours suit you best based on your skin tone, eye and hair colour. Your colour is then matched to a specific season - summer, autumn, winter and spring.

Another fun activity to do is to get a caricature done at Acorn Caricature, there are many located around Seoul. There is also a black and white photobooth hidden down one of the many alleys in Hongdae, this is a super fun souvenir to bring back home.

Seoul has a fantastic cafe scene with the most beautifully plated food. You can enjoy a meal at any of the cafes around the main Hongdae area. I had lunch at an incredible cafe called "Colline".

Once you're finished up exploring Hongdae, head to your closest metro train station and head to Sinsa. Sinsa is more of an 'upscale' area with boutique shops - located near Gangham. Here, you can enjoy an afternoon coffee at one of the many cafes (or my personal favourite, Ralph's Coffee). This was a nice area to window shop and walk around.

Day 3: DMZ Tour + Seoul Central Exploration

Today is a history based day. Start your day by joining a DMZ tour (I booked mine through Klook.). This tour included visiting the DMZ and suspension bridge (lunch wasn't included). Make sure you bring plenty of water with you. In this tour you'll learn a lot about Korean history, which is super insightful. You'll visit the Demilitarized Zone between South & North Korea which is the 4km radius between the border. Depending what start time you pick, this day trip runs for about 8 hours.

Spend the evening watching the sunset from Namsen Tower, there are a couple of options on how to get to the top, you can either catch a cable car or walk up hill. The cable car option is great for a faster way to get up to the top, with a nice stroll to head down afterwards.

Day 4: Exploring Palaces + Seongsu

This is one of the most exciting days in Seoul, it's time to visit the beautiful palaces. Start your day with an optional photoshoot and traditional hanbok experience - I booked mine through AirBNB experiences, this was honestly such a magical experience. You'll meet with your photographer at Daehan Hanbok and choose your outfit + hairstyle and head to the Gyeongbokgung Palace where you will explore and have a photoshoot with the traditional outfit on. Once the photoshoot is finished, your ticket is still valid so you can re-enter the palace and explore some more.

Then, walk over to Bukchon Hanok Village, its a residential area with the most amazing traditional homes. There are so many cute shops along the way here, so don't forget to stop by and have your camera ready to take some epic shots!

Grab some lunch, then head over to Seongsu, another incredible neighbourhood with a great street-wear shopping scene. Even if you're just window shopping, it's a really cool area to check out, there are some great food places here and of course, if you're up for a little shop - go for it.

Head to COEX Mall in Gangham and check out the Starfield library, it's iconic!

Day 5: Travel to Jeonju

It's time to say bye bye to Seoul as you head to your next stop - Jeonju. Start your morning with some breakfast at a local cafe then head to Seoul Central where you'll catch a KTX train (which is the bullet train) to Jeonju. You can book your train tickets through the KORAIL website. Please book these in advance as the seats do fill up quickly. This journey takes about 1.5-2 hours. Once you arrive grab a taxi and head to the Hanok village, where you'll base yourself for the next two nights.

It's time to explore, walk around the village and check out the gorgeous scenery. You can visit the Jaman Mural Village, which is a short walk out of the central part of Jeonju. Here you can check out the murals and street art. After this, head to Nambu market and check out the market life.

Day 6: Jeonju Culture Day

Today is a nice relaxing, slow day for you. Start your morning with brunch at one of the many amazing cafe's (my personal favourite was - 1938 Mansion incredible food and coffee + it was so picturesque!)

Spend your day within the Hanok village - visit the Gyeonggijeon Shrine and walk around the beautiful gardens, there is a museum within this area so don't forget to check this out.

There are so many cute shops to check out as well, so just take your time and explore the streets, it's very beautiful to photograph. If you're up for it, there are some caricature artists along the main street that are reasonably priced!

For dinner, try the Jeonju bimimbap at Han gook jip (highly recommend!)

Day 7: Travel to Busan

Start your morning with some breakfast at one of the local cafes, the head to the bus station to catch a bus to Busan. I booked mine through Klook! The ticket cost around $40AUD and it was a direct bus that made one toilet stop along the way. The buses are super spacious and have USB charging points. This journey takes around 3 hours.

From the bus station, you can either catch a train / local bus or taxi to your hotel. The best areas to stay in are Haeundae or Nampo.

Spend the afternoon exploring Gamcheon Culutral village. This is the village with all the beautifully coloured houses - so get your camera ready to snap some great photos. There are lots of view points and photo stops along the way, so take your time exploring this place.

For sunset, catch a taxi to Songdo cable car for a gorgeous view of the beach and enjoy the cable ride down. For dinner, head to BIFF Square in Nampo for some street food.

Day 8: Exploring Busan

A full day of exploration of Busan and surrounds. Start your morning with a taxi ride to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple - an incredible seaside Buddhist temple with scenic views. If you're up for some shopping, there is a Lotte outlet mall nearby you could check out.

Next, head to Haeundae for lunch and to check out the street markets. This area was so lovely to just walk around in. Take a walk along the beach and head towards the blue line park where you can ride the sky rail or train. The sky rail has to be booked in advance and sells out quickly, so keep this in mind. (I rode the train, as I didn't know it had to be booked in advance and there was no tickets left). The views from the train were fantastic, you make 4 stops along the way and stop at various towns. Each town has its own charm. You can walk back along the seaside path as there are many photo stops on the way.

To end your day, walk along the beach to Dongbaekseom island for another gorgeous coastal walk to check out Gwangan bridge.

Day 9: Final Day Exploring Busan

Start your morning with the famous 'Eggdrop' (one of the most delicious fast-food brekkies!) and head out to explore. Weather dependant - you can head out for a hike along the Igidae Coastal Walk for pretty seaside views.

Another option is heading out to Seomyeon for a shopping and spa day. Take your last day in Busan and enjoy. I visited Juno Hair for a 15 step scalp treatment and it was amazing. Beauty and hair treatments are next level here in South Korea, so if this is something you think you'll enjoy, add it to the list!

For dinner, indulge in some yummy seafood.

Day 10: Travel Back to Seoul

Catch an early morning KTX train back to Seoul for another slow day of exploring. You can either have a chill day or visit any of the sites you may have missed. Head to Jongmyo Shrine and Changgyeonggung Palace for a scenic walk.

In the afternoon check out the Myeongdong shopping street - there are lots of different street vendors here so you can try some delicious street food and enjoy walking the streets,

For your final dinner, enjoy your last traditional Korean meal and reflect back on your trip.

Where to Stay in South Korea

I'd recommend staying somewhere central for your first time visit - for Seoul; Myeongdong or Hongdae area are quite popular with lots of accomodation for all budgets. I chose to stay in Itaewon as this was recommended by a friend (which I loved this area), it is just a little further out.

For Busan; I'd recommend staying central Haeundae or Seomyeon. I chose to stay in Nampo (it was a little further out, however was closer to the sites I wanted to visit).

I've linked below the accomodation where I stayed.

Seoul: Nouvelle Seoul (Itaewon), Hotel Lemong

Jeonju: Starlight Rest Area

Busan: Urbanstay Boutique Nampo BIFF

How to Get Around South Korea

You can book the KTX Train (bullet train) between Seoul and Busan. This can be booked through the KORAIL website or you can purchase a ticket in advance from Seoul Central Train station / Busan station.

Catching a bus is another great option for getting between places, I booked my buses through Klook.

For the subway and public buses within the city - purchase a T-Money card. This can only be loaded with Korean Won cash at the train station.

Alternatively, you can catch an uber or local taxi as well for direct transport between places / accomodation.

Budget for 10 Days in South Korea

South Korea isn’t the cheapest destination in Asia, but it’s also not as expensive as what you'd expect. I found this budget wise to be pretty manageable, especially for how easy it is to get around and how much there is to do.

Here’s a rough idea of what I spent (and what you can expect) travelling through Seoul, Jeonju, and Busan over 10 days.

Best Time to Visit South Korea

South Korea is one of those places that really changes with the seasons, so depending on the time of year your plan it visit, it can completely shape your experience. I visited in mid-June which is the summer period, but also the beginning of monsoon season (and boy, oh boy was it humid).

What to Pack for South Korea

What you pack will depend a bit on the season, but overall I found South Korea to be pretty easy to pack for. It’s the kind of place where you'll be doing a lot of walking, visiting different neighbourhoods, catching public transport and in and out of cafés, so comfort is key.

A few essentials I’d recommend:

Comfortable walking shoes: You’ll be on your feet a lot, so this is non-negotiable. Personally, I always rock a pair of Salomon's (they're the comfiest shoe and great to walk in).

Layers: Even in warmer months, it can shift between hot outside and air-conditioned indoors pretty quickly, I'd recommend bringing a lightweight waterproof jacket to protect you from the rain.

A portable charger: You’ll likely be using maps, translating and taking photos throughout the day, so it's essential to have your phone charged.

Universal adapter: Easy to forget, but you’ll need it. South Korea used the European Type F & Type C plug.

Refillable water bottle: Always good to carry around + keeps your water cool. Tap water is generally safe to drink in South Korea.

A small day bag/backpack: Something easy to carry around for daily exploring and to store your essentials.

Camera/photography gear: If you’re into photography, this is definitely a place you’ll want to take photos!

FAQs

Is 10 days enough for South Korea?

10 days is the perfect amount of time for a first time visit. You could extend your trip to 14 days and add on a visit to Jeju Island, which has direct flights from Busan and Seoul.

Is South Korea expensive?

Like all countries and depending on your budget and exchange rate, it can be. However I found it to be relatively priced. If you're travelling on a budget, you can save money on accomodation and food by staying in hostels and purchasing food from the markets. or 7/11 (they also have a great range of food here, even if it's just for breakfast).

Is it safe for solo female travellers?

Yes! I felt super safe walking around here by myself as a solo female traveller. South Korea felt very safe for me, even walking around at night (in well lit areas of course). As always, keep your wits about you. If you feel uncomfortable in any situation and the vibe is not right, it's time to leave.